Company E, Third Virginia Infantry
The N-SSA was formed in 1950 by Ernest W. Peterkin and Jack Rawls, two men who had a vision of combining the rich history of our Nation and friendly, competitive shooting. The year 1958 saw the birth of the 3rd Virginia Infantry, Company E. The Cockade Rifles. The Cockades hold a seniority number of eleven, making us a charter member of the National organization.
The rosters may have been smaller in 1958, but today we have somewhere around 22 active members, ranging in age from their twenties to their seventies. We also have several "generations" of skirmishers within our team, five different families, to be exact. One family has six members competing in the N-SSA!
You might find members of the Cockade Rifles in Memorial Park competing in dress competition or on the range with their children during the junior and senior BB gun competitions. We're often found on the revolver range, as we regularly field teams at the Nationals, and our own Central Virginia Regionals. The Cockades were the revolver team winners of the 99th Nationals in class A-1. We have several other National and regional medals and awards under our belt, and compete in all matter of small arms competition. We fielded teams at the last National Match in musket, carbine, smoothbore, revolver, and Breechloader 2/Henry classifications. All we need now is a mortar and cannon!
Many nights you can find members of the Cockades gathered around a poker table telling tall tales and taking each others' money. We're a group that comes to skirmishes to have fun and compete; and in that order. Sometimes we even get a little shooting in!
If you've smiled and chuckled while reading this, then you know that we're making light of our team mantras. All in all we are dedicated and loyal to our beloved sport of skirmishing; but hobbies are meant to be fun, and the Cockades will never forget that part!
